Foldable door for refrigerator

ABSTRACT

A foldable door for a refrigerator appliance comprises: a first door hingedly connected to one end of a refrigerator body and configured to open and close one open surface of the refrigerator body; a second door foldably connected to the first door so as to open and close the other open surface of the refrigerator body; and a locking unit configured to selectively fold or affix the first door with respect to the second door. A fixing unit is configured to fix the locking unit against movement thereof, wherein the fixing unit comprises: a fixing portion disposed on the reinforcing bar; and an electromagnetic portion configured to generate an electromagnetic attraction force acting on the fixing portion when electric power is applied to the electromagnetic portion.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is based on and claims priority from Korean Patent Application No. 10-2018-0082949, filed on Jul. 17, 2018, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference for all purposes.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a foldable door for a refrigerator.

BACKGROUND

Generally, a refrigerator is an appliance used for freshly storing goods such as food items, beverages and the like for extended periods of time.

The refrigerator may store goods in a frozen state or a refrigerated state depending on the type of goods to be stored. Foods such as meat or ice cream that should be kept below a freezing temperature are stored in a freezing compartment. Foods such as vegetables or beverages that should be kept at a temperature slightly higher than the freezing temperature are stored in a refrigeration compartment.

Particularly, as refrigerators increase in size, there is now available a refrigerator type in which a refrigeration compartment is opened and closed by a hinged door that can be rotated at an upper portion of the refrigerator and a freezing compartment that is opened and closed by a sliding door that can be slid in a forward/backward direction at a lower portion of the refrigerator.

However, in such conventional refrigerator types, as the door of the refrigeration compartment is frequently opened and closed, power loss may occur and the freshness of foods stored in the refrigeration compartment may decrease as cool air escapes the refrigeration compartment.

SUMMARY

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a foldable door for a refrigerator appliance that makes it possible to partially open an internal space of a refrigeration compartment through a foldable structure.

In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, there is described a foldable door for a refrigerator, comprising: a first door hingedly connected to one end of a refrigerator body and configured to open and close a first open surface of the refrigerator body; a second door foldably connected to the first door and configured to open and close a second open surface of the refrigerator body; and a locking unit configured to selectively fold or fix the second door with respect to the first door.

The foldable door may further comprise: a sealing gasket provided in the first door or the second door and configured to cover a folding region between the first door and the second door when an open surface of the refrigerator body is closed by the first door and the second door.

The locking unit may include a locking groove disposed on the first door, a reinforcing bar slidably mounted on the second door and configured to be inserted into the locking groove, and a switch configured to press and move the reinforcing bar where the reinforcing bar is inserted into the locking groove.

The locking unit may further include an elastic member mounted in the locking groove and configured to provide a restoring force to the reinforcing bar to return the reinforcing bar to an original position when the switch is released.

The foldable door may further comprise: a fixing unit configured to fix the locking unit against movement, wherein the fixing unit includes a fixing portion provided on the reinforcing bar, and an electromagnetic portion configured to generate an electromagnetic attraction force acting on the fixing portion when electric power is applied to the electromagnetic portion.

The embodiments of the present disclosure make it possible to advantageously open a part of the refrigeration compartment through the foldable structure of the door, thereby reducing the loss of a cold air which may occur when the door is completely opened.

Further, according to the embodiments of the present disclosure, it is possible to fold the middle part of the door of the refrigerator. As compared with an example where the entire door is opened and closed, it is possible in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure to easily open and close the door, to reduce the turning radius of the door, and to reduce the occurrence of dew formation in the intermediate partitioning portion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a foldable door for a refrigerator appliance according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a state diagram showing a state in which a reinforcing bar of a locking unit is inserted into a locking groove in the foldable door for a refrigerator appliance according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a state diagram showing a state in which the reinforcing bar of the locking unit is removed from the locking groove in the foldable door for a refrigerator appliance according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a sealing gasket provided in a first door of the foldable door for a refrigerator appliance according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram showing a locking unit of a foldable door for a refrigerator appliance according to a modification of the embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Hereinafter, configurations and operations of embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The following description is one of various patentable aspects of the disclosure and may form a part of the detailed description of the disclosure.

However, in describing the disclosure, detailed descriptions of known configurations or functions that may obscure parts of the disclosure may be omitted.

The disclosure may be variously modified and may include various embodiments. Specific embodiments will be exemplarily illustrated in the drawings and described in the detailed description of the embodiments. However, it should be understood that they are not intended to limit the disclosure to specific embodiments but rather to cover all modifications, similarities, and alternatives which are included in the spirit and scope of the disclosure.

The terms used herein, including ordinal numbers such as “first” and “second” may be used to describe, and not to limit, various components. The terms simply distinguish the components from one another.

When it is said that a component is “connected” or “linked” to another component, it should be understood that the former component may be directly connected or linked to the latter component or a third component may be interposed between the two components.

Specific terms used in the present application are used simply to describe specific embodiments without limiting the disclosure. An expression used in the singular encompasses the expression of the plural, unless it has a clearly different meaning in the context.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a foldable door for a refrigerator appliance according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 2 is a state diagram showing a state in which a reinforcing bar of a locking unit is inserted into a locking groove in the foldable door for a refrigerator appliance according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 3 is a state diagram showing a state in which the reinforcing bar of the locking unit is removed from the locking groove in the foldable door for a refrigerator appliance according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the foldable door 10 for a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include a first door 110, a second door 120, a locking unit 300, and a sealing gasket 410.

Specifically, the first door 110 may include one front cover of a refrigerator body 20 and may open and close one open surface (e.g., a “first” open surface) of the refrigerator body 20. In this regard, the one open surface of the refrigerator body 20 may be understood as the one portion of an open surface where the refrigeration space of the refrigerator body 20 is opened when the refrigerator door is opened. In addition, the other open surface (e.g., a “second” open surface) of the refrigerator body 20 (to be described later) is the open surface other than the one open surface and may be understood as the other portion of the open surface where the refrigeration space of the refrigerator body 20 is opened when the refrigerator door is opened.

The first door 110 may be rotatably connected to one end of the refrigerator body 20. For example, one end of the first door 110 may be hinged to one end of the refrigerator body 20 through a conventional hinge device. The other end of the first door 110 may be foldably connected to the second door 120.

The second door 120 may include the other front cover of the refrigerator body 20 and may open and close the other open surface of the refrigerator body 20. The second door 120 may be foldably connected to the other end of the first door 110. For example, one end of the second door 120 may be foldably connected to the other end of the first door 110 through a conventional folding device.

The first door 110 and the second door 120 may close the entire open surface (one open surface and the other open surface) of the refrigerator body 20 when the refrigerator body 20 is closed. At this time, the first door 110 and the second door 120 may be provided in the form of a plate arranged to face the entire open surface of the refrigerator body 20.

In addition, when the refrigerator body 20 is opened, the first door 110 and the second door 120 may open the entire open surface of the refrigerator body 20 or the first door 110 and the second door 120 may open at least a partial open surface of the refrigerator body 20 (e.g., the other open surface).

For example, when the first door 110 and the second door 120 are rotated in the form of a plate with respect to the refrigerator body 20, the first door 110 and the second door 120 may open the entire open surface of the refrigerator body 20. On the other hand, when the second door 120 is folded onto the first door 110, it is possible to open only the other open surface of the refrigerator body 20. When the second door 120 and the second door 120 are rotated with respect to the refrigerator body 20 in a folded state in which the second door 120 is folded onto the first door 110, it is possible to open not only the other open surface (the second open surface) of the refrigerator body 20 but also the one open surface (the first open surface) of the refrigerator body 20.

The first door 110 and the second door 120 can be selectively folded and fixed by the locking unit 300. To this end, the locking unit 300 may include a locking groove 310, a reinforcing bar 320, a switch 330 and an elastic member 340.

In one embodiment, the locking groove 310 may be provided as a groove at the other end of the first door 110. The locking groove 310 may have an insertion space into which an end portion of the reinforcing bar 320 can be inserted. The reinforcing bar 320 may be slidably installed on the second door 120 and configured to be inserted into the locking groove 310. At this time, one end of the reinforcing bar 320 is positioned to face the locking groove 310 of the first door 110, and the switch 330 is attached to the other end of the reinforcing bar 320.

The switch 330 may be a button for pushing and moving the reinforcing bar 320 and may be mounted on a refrigerator handle (not shown). In the present embodiment, there has been described an example in which the switch 330 is mounted on the refrigerator handle. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, the switch 330 may be installed at various positions of the refrigerator where a user can conveniently push the switch 330.

Accordingly, when the switch 330 is pushed by the user, the reinforcing bar 320 may be inserted into the locking groove 310 by the urging force of the switch 330. When the switch 330 is released, the reinforcing bar 320 inserted into the locking groove 310 may be returned to its original position by the restoring force of the elastic member 340.

The elastic member 340 may be in the form of an elastic spring mounted in the locking groove 310. This elastic member 340 may be compressed by the reinforcing bar 320 when the switch 330 is pressed against the reinforcing bar 320. When the switch 330 pressed against the reinforcing bar 320 is released, the elastic member 340 may provide a restoring force to the reinforcing bar 320 to return the reinforcing bar 320 to the original position.

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing the sealing gasket provided in the first door of the foldable door for a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

As shown in FIG. 4, the sealing gasket 410 is disposed in the folding region F between the first door 110 and the second door 120 and is capable of preventing cold air leakage in the folding region F. At this time, a sealing member 420 may be provided at the edges of the first door 110 and the second door 120.

For example, the sealing gasket 410 may be installed at the edge of the first door 110 adjacent to the second door 120. When the open surface of the refrigerator body 20 is closed by the first door 110 and the second door 120, the sealing gasket 410 covers the folding region between the first door 110 and the second door 120, whereby cold air leakage through the folding region can be prevented.

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram showing the locking unit of the foldable door for a refrigerator according to a modification of the embodiment of the present disclosure.

As shown in FIG. 5, in a modification of the embodiment of the present disclosure, the locking unit 300 may include a locking groove 310, a reinforcing bar 320, a switch 330, an elastic member 340 and a fixing unit 350. The configurations of the locking groove 310, the reinforcing bar 320, the switch 330 and the elastic member 340 (except for the fixing unit 350) are the same as the configurations of the locking groove 310, the reinforcing bar 320, the switch 330 and the elastic member 340 as described in the embodiments of the present disclosure. Therefore, detailed description thereof will not be repeated.

The fixing unit 350 may fix the locking unit 300, more precisely, the reinforcing bar 320, against movement thereof. For example, when the fixing unit 350 fixes the reinforcing bar 320 inserted into the locking groove 310, the first door 110 and the second door 120 may be maintained in a configuration in which they are connected to each other in the form of a plate that cannot be folded.

The fixing unit 350 may include a fixing portion 351 disposed on the reinforcing bar 320 and an electromagnetic portion 352 configured to generate an electromagnetic attractive force acting on the fixing portion 351 when electric power is applied to the electromagnetic portion 352. When the electric power is applied, the electromagnetic portion 352 may fix the fixing portion 351 of the reinforcing bar 320 against movement, thereby preventing the operation of the locking unit 300, e.g., the movement of the reinforcing bar 320.

The operation of the foldable door for a refrigerator having the aforementioned configuration will now be described.

As shown in FIG. 2, when the user desires to use the first door 110 and the second door 120 in the form of an unfolded plate, the user pushes the switch 330 disposed on the refrigerator handle. At this time, the reinforcing bar 320 is inserted into the locking groove 310 by the pressing force of the switch 330. Therefore, the first door 110 and the second door 120 are fixed to each other by the reinforcing bar 320 and can be used in the form of an unfolded plate.

Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 3, when the switch 330 is released, the reinforcing bar 320 (inserted into the locking groove 310) is returned to its original position by the restoring force of the elastic member 340. In this state, the user may use the first door 110 and the second door 120 in a foldable form. That is, the user may use the first door 110 and the second door 120 by folding only the second door 120 onto the first door 110 without pushing the switch 330.

As shown in FIG. 5, when the first door 110 and the second door 120 are continuously used in the form of an unfolded plate, the user may apply electric power to the electromagnetic portion 352 of the fixing unit 350 while pushing the switch 330 provided on the refrigerator handle. At this time, the electromagnetic portion 352 fixes the fixing portion 351 of the reinforcing bar 320. Therefore, the user may continue to use the first door 110 and the second door 120 in the form of an unfolded plate.

As described above, the embodiments of the present disclosure make it possible to advantageously open a part of the refrigeration compartment through the foldable structure of the door. Therefore, as compared with a case where the entire door is opened and closed, it is possible to easily open and close the door, to reduce the turning radius of the door, and to reduce the loss of cold air which may occur when the door is completely opened.

From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that various embodiments of the present disclosure have been described herein for purposes of illustration, and that various modifications may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the present disclosure. The exemplary embodiments disclosed in the specification of the present disclosure do not limit the present disclosure. The scope of the present disclosure will be interpreted by the claims below, and it will be construed that all techniques within the scope equivalent thereto belong to the scope of the present disclosure. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A foldable door for a refrigerator, the foldable door comprising: a first door hingedly connected to one end of a refrigerator body and configured to open and close a first open surface of the refrigerator body; a second door foldably connected to the first door and configured to open and close a second open surface of the refrigerator body; and a locking unit configured to selectively fold and affix the second door with respect to the first door.
 2. The foldable door of claim 1, further comprising: a sealing gasket disposed in one of: the first door; and the second door, and configured to cover a folding region between the first door and the second door when an open surface of the refrigerator body is closed by the first door and the second door.
 3. The foldable door of claim 1, wherein the locking unit comprises: a locking groove disposed on the first door; a reinforcing bar slidably mounted on the second door and configured to be inserted into the locking groove; and a switch configured to press and move the reinforcing bar to allow the reinforcing bar to be inserted into the locking groove.
 4. The foldable door of claim 3, wherein the locking unit further comprises an elastic member mounted in the locking groove and configured to provide a restoring force to the reinforcing bar to return the reinforcing bar to an original position when the switch is released.
 5. The foldable door of claim 2, further comprising a fixing unit configured to fix the locking unit against movement thereof, wherein the fixing unit comprises: a fixing portion disposed on the reinforcing bar; and an electromagnetic portion configured to generate an electromagnetic attraction force acting on the fixing portion when electric power is applied to the electromagnetic portion.
 6. A refrigerator comprising: a refrigerator body; and a foldable door comprising: a first door hingedly connected to one end of a refrigerator body and configured to open and close a first open surface of the refrigerator body; a second door foldably connected to the first door and configured to open and close a second open surface of the refrigerator body; and a locking unit configured to selectively fold and affix the second door with respect to the first door.
 7. The refrigerator of claim 6, further comprising: a sealing gasket disposed in one of: the first door; and the second door, and configured to cover a folding region between the first door and the second door when an open surface of the refrigerator body is closed by the first door and the second door.
 8. The refrigerator of claim 6, wherein the locking unit comprises: a locking groove disposed on the first door; a reinforcing bar slidably mounted on the second door and configured to be inserted into the locking groove; and a switch configured to press and move the reinforcing bar to allow the reinforcing bar to be inserted into the locking groove.
 9. The refrigerator of claim 8, wherein the locking unit further comprises an elastic member mounted in the locking groove and configured to provide a restoring force to the reinforcing bar to return the reinforcing bar to an original position when the switch is released.
 10. The refrigerator of claim 7, wherein the locking unit comprises: a locking groove disposed on the first door; a reinforcing bar slidably mounted on the second door and configured to be inserted into the locking groove; and a switch configured to press and move the reinforcing bar to allow the reinforcing bar to be inserted into the locking groove.
 11. The refrigerator of claim 10, wherein the locking unit further comprises an elastic member mounted in the locking groove and configured to provide a restoring force to the reinforcing bar to return the reinforcing bar to an original position when the switch is released.
 12. The refrigerator of claim 7, further comprising a fixing unit configured to fix the locking unit against movement thereof, wherein the fixing unit comprises: a fixing portion disposed on the reinforcing bar; and an electromagnetic portion configured to generate an electromagnetic attraction force acting on the fixing portion when electric power is applied to the electromagnetic portion. 